What happens in the bar of a barred spiral?
A) The bar rotates like a rigid body with no relative motion of the stars and gas inside.
B) The bar is part of the spiral arm structure, and it is actually a shock wave moving through the relatively rapid circular motion of the individual stars.
C) Stars tend to enter one end of the bar, pass through the bar, and exit the other end.
D) Stars and gas tend to move along highly elliptical orbits within the bars.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Stars and gas within the bars of barred spiral galaxies tend to move along highly elliptical orbits, which is a characteristic motion within these structures.

What Happens in the Bar of a Barred Spiral